Loma 1

1 Ko au Paula ko e tamaioʻeiki ʻa Sisu Kalaisi, kuo fili ko e ʻaposetolo, mo vaheʻi ki he ongoongolelei ʻae ʻOtua,

[I], Paul, who serve Christ Jesus, [am writing this letter]. God chose me to be an apostle, and I was appointed by him {he appointed me} in order that [I should proclaim] (the good message/the gospel) that [comes from him].

2 (ʻAia naʻa ne fakaʻilo ʻi muʻa ʻi heʻene kau palōfita ʻi he ngaahi tohi māʻoniʻoni, )

Long before [Jesus came to earth, God] promised [that he would reveal] this good message by means of what his prophets [wrote] in the sacred Scriptures.

3 ‌ʻOku kau ki hono ʻAlo ko Sisu Kalaisi ko hotau ʻEiki, ʻaia naʻe fakatupu hono sino ʻi he hako ʻo Tevita;

This good message is [about the one whom we know as] his Son. As to his Son’s physical/human nature, he was born a descendant of [King] David.

4 Pea fakahā fakapapau ʻaki ʻae mālohi, ʻi he toetuʻu mei he mate, ko e ʻAlo ia ʻoe ʻOtua, ʻo fakatatau ki he laumālie ʻoe māʻoniʻoni:

As to his divine nature, it was shown {[God] showed} powerfully that he is (God’s own Son/the man who is also God). [God] showed this by his Holy Spirit causing him to become alive again after he died. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.

5 ‌ʻAia kuo mau maʻu ai ʻae ʻaloʻofa mo e ngāue fakaʻaposetolo, ke ai ha talangofua ki he tui ʻi he ngaahi puleʻanga kotoa pē, koeʻuhi ko hono huafa:

He is the one who appointed me, who did not deserve it, [to be] an apostle. He did that in order that [many] among the non-Jews would honor [him] and would obey him as a result of their believing [my message about him].

6 Pea ʻoku mou ʻiate kinautolu foki ko e fili ʻe Sisu Kalaisi:

You [believers] who are living in Rome [city] are included among those whom God has chosen to belong to Jesus Christ.

7 Kiate kimoutolu kotoa pē ʻoku ʻi Loma, ʻoku ʻofeina ʻe he ʻOtua, kuo ui ke māʻoniʻoni: ke ʻiate kimoutolu ʻae ʻaloʻofa mo e monūʻia mei he ʻOtua ko ʻetau Tamai, pea mo e ʻEiki ko Sisu Kalaisi.

[I am writing this letter] to all of [you in Rome] whom God loves and whom he has chosen [to become his] people. [I pray that] God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord will [continue to] act kindly toward you and [will continue to] cause you to have [inner] peace.

8 ‌ʻOku ou fuofua fakafetaʻi ki hoku ʻOtua ʻia Sisu Kalaisi koeʻuhi ko kimoutolu kotoa pē, he ʻoku ongoongoa hoʻomou tui ʻi māmani kotoa pē.

As I begin [this letter], I thank my God for all you [believers in Rome]. It is because of [what] Jesus Christ [has done for us that] I [am able to do that]. I thank him because your trusting [in Jesus Christ] is something that people all over [the Roman Empire] [HYP] are talking about.

9 He ko e ʻOtua, ʻaia ʻoku ou tauhi ʻaki hoku laumālie ʻi he ongoongolelei ʻo hono ʻAlo, ko hoku fakamoʻoni ia, ʻoku ou fakamanatuʻi maʻuaipē ʻakimoutolu ʻi heʻeku ngaahi lotu;

God, whom I devotedly serve as I [proclaim to people] the gospel concerning his Son, knows that I tell the truth when I say that I always mention you whenever [DOU] I pray [to God] [HYP].

10 ‌ʻO kole taʻetuku, ʻo kapau ʻe mafai, ke u lavaʻi eni ha fononga lelei kiate kimoutolu ʻi he finangalo ʻoe ʻOtua.

I especially ask God that if he desires [me to visit you], somehow at last I shall be able to do so.

11 He ʻoku ou holi lahi ke mamata kiate kimoutolu, koeʻuhi ke u ʻatu kiate kimoutolu ha foaki fakalaumālie, ko e meʻa ke fakatuʻumaʻu aipē ʻakimoutolu;

[I pray this] because I long to visit you to help you spiritually, in order that you will become stronger [spiritually].

12 Koeʻuhi ke tau fiemālie fakataha mo kimoutolu, ʻi he tui pe taha ʻamoutolu mo au.

I long to visit you in order that you and I might encourage each other [by means of our sharing with each other] how each of us trusts [in Jesus].

13 Pea ko eni, ʻe kāinga, ʻoku ʻikai te u loto ke mou taʻeʻilo, naʻe liunga lahi ʻeku tokanga ke u ʻalu atu kiate kimoutolu, koeʻuhi ke u maʻu ha fua ʻiate kimoutolu foki, ʻo hangē ko e ngaahi Senitaile kehekehe, ka kuo taʻofia au.

My fellow believers, many times I planned to visit you. I certainly want you to know [LIT] that. [But I have not been able to come to you because] I have been hindered {[things] have always prevented me} until the present time. I have wanted to come in order that I might help you to mature spiritually [IDM], as [I have helped people to mature spiritually] in many other non-Jewish groups [HYP].

14 Ko e tuku totongi au ki he kakai Kiliki, mo e kakai muli; ki he poto, mo e taʻepoto.

I feel obliged [to proclaim the gospel to all non-Jewish people], specifically to [people who know] the Greek [language and culture] and to those who do not know it, to people who are educated and to those who are uneducated.

15 Ko ia ʻoku ou loto ke u malangaʻaki ʻae ongoongolelei kiate kimoutolu ʻoku ʻi Loma foki, ʻo fakatatau ki heʻeku faʻa fai.

So what I have eagerly desired is that I might proclaim this good message to you who are living in Rome also.

16 He ʻoku ʻikai te u mā ʻi he ongoongolelei ʻo Kalaisi: he ko e mālohi ia ʻoe ʻOtua ki he fakamoʻui kiate kinautolu kotoa pē ʻoku tui; ʻo muʻomuʻa ki he Siu, pea ki he Kiliki foki.

[That leads me to say that] I very confidently proclaim [LIT] the good message [about what Christ has done], because this good message is the powerful [means] that God [uses] to save [from the guilt of their sins] all people who trust [in what Christ has done for them]. Specifically, God first has saved the Jews [who believe the good message], and then he has saved non-Jews.

17 He ʻoku fakamatala ai ʻae fakatonuhiaʻi ʻe he ʻOtua ʻi he tui ki he tui; ʻo hangē ko ia kuo tohi, “Ko e tonuhia ʻe moʻui ʻi he tui.”

By means of this good message God reveals how he erases the record of people’s sins (OR, declares people no longer guilty for having sinned); and his doing this is entirely because [IDM] they trust [in Christ. This is confirmed] by what [a prophet long ago] wrote [that God said], “Those (whose record of sin [I] have erased/whom [I] have declared no longer guilty for sin) because they trust [in me] will live [forever].”

18 He ʻoku fakahā mei he langi ʻae houhau ʻoe ʻOtua ki he taʻelotu mo e taʻemāʻoniʻoni kotoa pē ʻoe kakai, ʻakinautolu ʻoku taʻofi ki he moʻoni ʻi he taʻemāʻoniʻoni;

From [where God rules in] heaven he is making it clear to all [non-Jewish] people who show no respect for God and who do wicked things, that he is angry with them [and that they deserve to be punished] {[that he would punish them]} [MTY]. By means of [their behaving] wickedly, they keep other people [from believing what they know] to be true [about God].

19 Koeʻuhi ko ia ʻoku ʻilongofua ʻi he ʻOtua kuo hā ia ʻiate kinautolu; he kuo fakahā ia ʻe he ʻOtua kiate kinautolu;

[Everyone] can clearly know what God [is like], because God himself has revealed to everyone [what he is like].

20 He ko e ngaahi meʻa taʻehāmai ʻaʻana, ʻaia ko ʻene māfimafi taʻengata mo hono ʻOtua, kuo ʻilongofua ia ʻi hono ngaohi ʻo māmani, ʻoku ʻiloʻi ia mei he ngaahi meʻa kuo ngaohi; ko ia ʻoku ʻikai ai hanau haoʻanga: (aïdios g126)

[People] cannot see what God is like. But ever since he created the world, by means of what he created he has clearly revealed what he is like. He has made clear to everyone that he has always been able to do very powerful things. [Therefore, we should recognize that] God is powerful, [completely different from all that he created]. So no one has a basis for saying, [“We never knew about God].” (aïdios g126)

21 Koeʻuhi ʻi heʻenau ʻilo ʻae ʻOtua, naʻe ʻikai te nau fakaʻapaʻapa pe fakafetaʻi, ke taau mo e ʻOtua; ka naʻe hoko ʻo vale ʻenau ngaahi mahalo, pea fakapoʻuli mo honau loto vale.

Although [the non-Jews] knew what God [is like], they did not honor him as God, nor did they thank [him for what he had done]. But instead, they began to think foolish [things about him], and they became unable to understand [MET] [what he wanted them to know].

22 Pea ʻi heʻenau pole ko e poto ʻakinautolu, naʻa nau liliu ai ko e vale,

Although they claimed that they were wise, they became foolish,

23 ‌ʻO nau fetongi ʻae nāunau ʻoe ʻOtua taʻefaʻaʻauʻauha ʻaki ʻae fakatātā kuo ngaohi ke tatau pe mo e tangata ʻoku faʻa ʻauʻauha, mo e fanga manupuna, mo e fanga manu veʻe fā, mo e ngaahi meʻa totolo.

and they refused to [admit that] God is glorious and will never die. Instead, they made and worshipped idols [that resembled people who] will some day die, and [then they made other idols that resembled] birds and four-footed animals, and [finally] they made idols that resembled reptiles.

24 Ko ia naʻe fakatukutukuʻi ai ʻe he ʻOtua ʻakinautolu ki he fakalielia ʻi he ngaahi holi kovi ʻa honau loto, ke fefakalieliaʻi honau sino ʻiate kinautolu:

So God allowed [the non-Jews] do immoral sexual things that they [SYN] strongly desired, things [that their desires were compelling them to do]. As a result, they [began to] dishonor each other’s bodies [by their sexual actions].

25 Ko e meʻa ʻi heʻenau fetongi ʻae ʻOtua moʻoni ʻaki ʻae loi, pea naʻe lahi hake ʻenau hū mo tauhi ki he meʻa kuo ngaohi, kae siʻaki ʻae Tupuʻanga, ʻaia ʻoku monūʻia ʻo taʻengata, ʻEmeni. (aiōn g165)

Also, they [chose to worship] false [gods] instead (of admitting/of choosing to believe) what is true [about] God. They worshipped and served things [that God] created instead of [worshipping and serving God himself], the one who created [everything. They did this even though] he [deserves that those he created] would forever praise him. Amen!/May it be so! (aiōn g165)

26 Ko ia naʻe fakatukutukuʻi ai ʻakinautolu ʻe he ʻOtua ki he ngaahi holi kovi: he naʻa mo ʻenau kau fefine, naʻa nau liaki ʻaia ʻoku totonu, kae fai ʻaia ʻoku taʻetaau mo ʻetau anga:

So, God allowed [the non-Jews to do] shameful [sexual] things that they [strongly] desired. As a result, many women did not have natural sexual relations [with their husbands] [EUP]. Instead, they were doing sexual actions with other women [EUP].

27 Pea pehē foki ʻe he kau tangata, ʻenau siʻaki ʻae kau fefine, ʻonau vela ʻi heʻenau feholi kovi ʻaki ʻiate kinautolu; ʻo fefaiʻaki ʻe he kau tangata ʻaia ʻoku taʻengali, pea naʻa nau maʻu kiate kinautolu ʻae totongi totonu ʻo ʻenau fai hala ko ia.

Similarly, [many] men stopped having/did not have natural sexual relations with women [EUP]. Instead, they strongly desired to have sexual relations with other men. They committed [homosexual] acts with other men, acts that were shameful. As a result, [God has] punished them [by sicknesses] in their bodies, which is what they deserve [because] they [thought] wrongly [that God would not punish them for doing that].

28 Pea ʻi he ʻikai te nau loto ke ke ʻiloʻi ʻae ʻOtua, naʻe fakatukutukuʻi ʻakinautolu ʻe he ʻOtua ki he loto kovi, ke fai ʻae ngaahi meʻa ko ia ʻoku ʻikai ngali;

Furthermore, because they decided that it was not [worthwhile] to know God, he allowed their own worthless thoughts [to completely control them]. As a result, they began doing [evil] things that [God says that people] should not do.

29 Kuo fakafonu ʻaki ʻae taʻemāʻoniʻoni kotoa pē, mo e feʻauaki, mo e angakovi, mo e manumanu, mo e fakafasifasi; ʻo fonu ʻi he meheka, mo e fakapō, mo e feʻiteʻitani, mo e kākā, mo e fasituʻu;

They strongly desire to do all [kinds of] unrighteous [things]. They strongly desire to do all [kinds of] evil things [to others]. They strongly desire to possess things that [belong to others]. They strongly desire to harm [others] in various ways. [Many non-Jews] are constantly envying [other people. Many] constantly desire to murder [people. Many] constantly desire to cause strife [between people. Many] constantly desire to deceive [others. Many] constantly desire to speak hatefully [about others] (OR, [to speak harmful things about others, things that are not true]). [Many] gossip [about others].

30 Ko e kau fefanafanahi kovi, mo e kau fakakovi, mo e kau fehiʻa ki he ʻOtua, mo e fakamālohi, mo e laukau, mo e kau polepole, mo e kau fakatupu ʻoe ngaahi meʻa kovi, mo e talangataʻa ki he mātuʻa:

[Many] slander [others. Many] act especially hatefully toward God. [Many] speak or act in an insulting way [toward others. Many] treat others contemptuously. [Many] boast [about themselves to others. Many] invent new ways to do evil things. [Many non-Jewish children] disobey their parents.

31 Ko e taʻepoto, ko e kau maumau fuakava, mo taʻemaʻu ʻae ʻofa fakafeʻofoʻofani; ko e angafakamolokau, mo e taʻemanavaʻofa:

[Many non-Jews] act in other morally foolish ways. [Many] do not do what they promised [others that they would do. Many] do not [even] love [their own family members. And many] do not act mercifully [toward other people].

32 ‌ʻAkinautolu ʻoku nau ʻilo ʻae tuʻutuʻuni ʻae ʻOtua, kuo totonu ke mate ʻakinautolu ʻoku fai ʻae ngaahi meʻa pehē, pea ʻoku ʻikai ke ngata ʻi heʻenau fai pehē pe, ka ʻoku nau kau mālie foki mo kinautolu ʻoku fai ia.

Although they know that God has declared that those who do such things deserve to be killed, they not only habitually do these [kinds of evil] things, but they also approve of others who habitually do them.